Player Updates

Marlins manager Mike Redmond said Wednesday some of his spring lineups will feature Christian Yelich batting third and Giancarlo Stanton batting fourth, per the Sun-Sentinel.

"If I give you the lineup what are we going to talk about for the next six weeks?" Redmond quipped. "I want to mess around with some lineups in spring training, maybe hit Yellie a few times in a three-hole, hit Stanton a few times in the four-hole. I don't know how often all those guys will play together, but see where it works and how comfortable Yellie is in that two-hole.

"We know what [Martin] Prado can do. It's nice to have the flexibility. It will be fun to tinker and be able to mix and match and see where the best fit is."

Although Yelich proved to be a very productive leadoff batter in 2014, Redmond views the 23-year-old outfielder as a potential No. 3 hitter.

"I foresee this guy being a three-hole type hitter, run producer," Redmond said. "Will that be this year or next year? I don't know. That's probably up to him and how he does. There is always a little bit of caution giving him too much too quick, but I know he's a guy that can handle it, where ever we put him in the lineup."

A significant gap between Yelich and the Marlins has caused contract talks on a long-term deal to stall. Hechavarria turned down the Marlins' multiyear contract because the offer was not significant enough. He can become a free agent after the 2018 season, while Yelich can become a free agent after 2019.

The Marlins have made long-term offers to outfielder Christian Yelich and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, and are expected to offer a contract extension to outfielder Marcell Ozuna early this week, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

The offer to Yelich is patterned after the six-year, $31 million deal Pirates outfielder Starling Marte received, but for less money.

Now that the Marlins have signed star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to a long-term deal, the team is still trying to sign shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and outfielder Christian Yelich to multiyear deals, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

As far as outfielder Marcell Ozuna and starting pitcher Jose Fernandez are concerned, however, it appears it could be a little more difficult to work out contract extensions, especially for Fernandez.

The Marlins have begun talks about long-term contracts for pitcher Jose Fernandez, outfielder Christian Yelich and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, according to FOX Sports. Although, nothing is close and it is considered a long shot a deal with get done with Fernandez, who is repped by agent Scott Boras.

The Marlins motivation is simply not to impress outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who the team is also trying to sign to a long-term deal. The idea is to build a team that can sustain success.